City Crime Investigation Branch (CCIB) police on Tuesday raided a house at Shetti Galli in Market police station limits and recovered ivory tusks, horns, nails and pelts of animals. Police said the recovered items are worth a few crores of rupees in the international market.
The seized stock, said to be around one tonne, is worth crores of rupees in the international trade, the police said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Amarnath Reddy told hat based on a tip-off, they raided the house and also arrested Salim Soudagar alias Chamadewala (45), a resident of Kotwal galli.
The accused, who is a traditional leather trader, claimed that the antlers, pangolin scales, and tusks had been stored over several years. At times, these products are sold to buyers in Hyderabad and Mumbai, he told the police. But the police said there were no documents to support his claims.
Police revealed that Chamadewale used to supply the items to China, Gulf countries and Vietnam via Goa. Police said Chamadewale’s family was also involved in vehicle theft cases. ACP Shankar Marihal said a few members of Chamadewale’s family have been detained to ascertain the reach of their business.